Latest news with #PersonalIdentityVerification
Mint
29-04-2025
- Mint
No degree, and over ₹8 crore earnings? The shocking remote work fraud that a 40-year-old man pulled off
A 40-year-old man from Maryland, US has pleaded guilty to pulling off a jaw-dropping wire fraud that fooled over 13 US companies, and even the US government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The twist? Not only did the man, Minh Phoung Ngoc Vong land the jobs without any formal degree, and worked remotely, he earned nearly $970,000 (~ ₹ 8.26 crore) over a period of three years, by making others do the work. Vong now faces up to 20 years of prison. The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, stated the US Department of Justice's press release. The Maryland man teamed up with unknown individuals—one of whom went by the name John Doe, also known as William James, a foreign national based in Shenyang, China—to trick US companies into hiring him as a remote software developer. Going by court documents, Minh Phoung Ngoc Vong's journey as a 'software professional' started when a fake resume—listing a college degree Vong never earned and 16 years of made-up software experience—landed him a job at a Virginia tech firm. That firm had a government contract with the FAA, giving Vong access to sensitive national defense software. Vong got through security checks using his real US passport and Maryland driver's license. The Virginia-based company provided Vong with a laptop to use in connection with his employment, and the FAA authorised Vong to receive a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card to access government facilities and systems. Vong installed remote access software on the laptop to facilitate Doe's access to it and conceal his location in China. In his statements, Vong admitted he had scammed more than just one company. Between 2021 and 2024, he and his co-conspirators duped at least 13 US firms, raking in over $970,000 (~ ₹ 8.26 crore) for software work that was secretly done by overseas operatives, including one in China.
Mint
29-04-2025
- Mint
No degree, and over ₹8 crore earnings? The shocking remote work fraud that a 40-year-old man pulled off
A 40-year-old man from Maryland, US has pleaded guilty to pulling off a jaw-dropping wire fraud that fooled over 13 US companies, and even the US government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The twist? Not only did the man, Minh Phoung Ngoc Vong land the jobs without any formal degree, and worked remotely, he earned nearly $970,000 (~ ₹ 8.26 crore) over a period of three years, by making others do the work. Vong now faces up to 20 years of prison. The FBI Baltimore Field Office is investigating the case, stated the US Department of Justice's press release. The Maryland man teamed up with unknown individuals—one of whom went by the name John Doe, also known as William James, a foreign national based in Shenyang, China—to trick US companies into hiring him as a remote software developer. Going by court documents, Minh Phoung Ngoc Vong's journey as a 'software professional' started when a fake résumé—listing a college degree Vong never earned and 16 years of made-up software experience—landed him a job at a Virginia tech firm. That firm had a government contract with the FAA, giving Vong access to sensitive national defense software. Vong got through security checks using his real US passport and Maryland driver's license. The Virginia-based company provided Vong with a laptop to use in connection with his employment, and the FAA authorized Vong to receive a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card to access government facilities and systems. Vong installed remote access software on the laptop to facilitate Doe's access to it and conceal his location in China. In his statements, Vong admitted he had scammed more than just one company. Between 2021 and 2024, he and his co-conspirators duped at least 13 US firms—raking in over $970,000 (~ ₹ 8.26 crore) for software work that was secretly done by overseas operatives, including one in China. Some of the companies that Vong had worked for, had contracts with US government agencies, who unknowingly granted Vong's co-conspirators access to sensitive US government systems, which they accessed from China. First Published: 29 Apr 2025, 09:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Nail salon worker with no degree landed 13 IT jobs, made over ₹8 crore in salary
A 40-year-old man from Maryland has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly holding 13 remote IT jobs—despite having no formal education or experience in software development. Over three years, Minh Phuong Ngoc Vong made more than $970,000 (approximately ₹8.26 crore) by outsourcing his work to North Korean operatives, according to Fortune. Vong, who previously worked in a nail salon, managed to deceive multiple US companies including government agencies into hiring him. As part of his guilty plea, he admitted to allowing North Korean nationals, operating out of China, to pose as him and perform highly sensitive IT work remotely. Vong told the FBI that he was initially approached by someone calling himself "William James" on a gaming app. "James" offered to help Vong make money legally through remote IT jobs. He and his associates fabricated a resume for Vong, claiming he had a degree from the University of Hawaii, 16 years of experience as a software developer, and had held a secret-level security clearance. One of the positions Vong fraudulently secured was on a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contract that involved monitoring aviation assets mid-flight in the US. After being hired, Vong was issued a MacBook Pro and a Personal Identity Verification card, granting him access to secure government systems and facilities. Instead of doing the job himself, Vong installed remote-access software on the FAA-issued laptop, which allowed individuals in China to log in and work under his identity. These operatives even attended Zoom meetings on Vong's behalf, discussing task lists and pretending to be him in daily team updates. The US Department of Justice revealed that Vong was part of a broader scheme where North Korean operatives gained access to US remote jobs through American citizens, funneling earnings back to North Korea's regime. The elaborate fraud spanned from 2021 to 2024 and Vong now faces up to 20 years in prison. (Also read: Chinese techie lives in his car for 4 years despite owning a four-storey house)
